Q For Quality!!! (V for Vendetta (DVD))

Member Name: MrTink12

Product:	V for Vendetta (DVD)
Date:	29/11/06 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Strong acting, really interesting future vision, thought provoking

Disadvantages: Not for everyone's taste, a bit too in your face

V for Vendetta is a film by first time director James McTeigue, released in 2005. It was written and co-produced by the Wachowski brothers, Andy and Larry, famous for The Matrix Trilogy. The film is based on a 1980s graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd, written by Alan Moore (who wanted to disassociate himself from the picture, and thus is not credited). This review is of the official Region 2 UK DVD release from July 2006.


--------The Storyline--------
The film takes place in a dystopian not too distant future. A character known only as ‘V’ (Hugo Weaving) is a man who uses terrorist acts in an effort to fight the totalitarian state. Great Britain is ruled by Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt). For example paintings and music have been outlawed, and the media is government controlled. Reminiscent of a Nazi Germany state, minorities – homosexuals, Muslims, black people – have been exterminated.

V’s mask shows the face of Guy Fawkes, the man who in 1605 attempted to blow up the houses of Parliament: V aims to succeed where Fawkes failed. Early on in the film V saves Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) from some aggressive policemen (known as fishermen) after she has broken curfew. V is not a nice character; he is vicious and kills without a shred of remorse. Shortly after saving Evey, V shows off his skills to her by blowing up the Old Bailey. V declares he will blow up the Houses of Parliament the following November 5th. This is a smart man, and a master of disguise able to get across his message on the national TV station in the hope the people will join him on London’s streets to free the country.

Evey joins forces with V, but both have to remain out of sight from the government officials who seek their capture. V’s hideaway, ‘The Shadow Gallery, contains all manner of outlawed material from art to music. As the story unfolds we are shown footage of V’s past, highlighting why he is so determined to bring the oppressive government to account.


--------My opinions--------
I must point out I have not read the original comic novel, so my opinions are strictly based on having viewed the movie.

This is not an action packed extravaganza. Thus if you are expecting something similar to the Wachowski’s Matrix films you may be disappointed, although there is one noticeable scene late in the picture which is very Matrix-esque. What you can expect though is some really impressive dialogue. For instance, I personally enjoyed the first scenes between V and Evey, when V speaks and pretty much uses every word that begins with the letter ‘v’ you could imagine. Additionally the special effects on offer are very well implemented, and are not over the top. For the most part the story is well paced, and should not be too difficult to follow.

The film seems to be a direct attack on government regimes. It is without doubt thought provoking. Some will definitely feel uncomfortable by the terrorist activity shown against some of London’s most known buildings. Others will agree with V’s actions in a state where liberty is restricted, he is trying to regain this. In my view, the film shows what could happen if government became too right wing and the freedoms we enjoy today evaporated. It is not easy viewing on occasions to see the future vision of what your country would be like in the control of a dictator. Still, this strikes me as rather deliberate by the filmmakers – it is in your face throughout, and you either accept that or you don’t.

There are some quality acting performances in V for Vendetta. Weaving is magnificent in his role as V using his distinctive voice and body movement to play a masked man. Some have criticised the fact that a rigid mask is used, but Weaving pulls off the role so convincingly, really becoming V, that this is not a problem in my opinion. Portman overall provides a better than average performance here. The main complaint is that her British accent changes a bit too much for my liking. Still she obviously put a lot of hard work into project, being prepared to shave her head for the role. Hurt does a splendid job, and is rather freaky when serving orders to his henchmen with just his face on a mammoth television screen. Stephen Rea performs strongly as Chief Inspector Eric Finch who discovers the horrifying truth about the corrupt government he has supported. Stephen Fry does a very good job as TV presented Gordon Deitrich, a closet homosexual who disapproves of the government, but his methods of showing this are far removed from that of V. Instead of violence, he pokes fun at the Chancellor on his TV show.


--------DVD Special Features--------
The DVD is not blessed with many special features. Included is a documentary lasting 15 minutes, ‘Freedom! Forever! Making V For Vendetta’, with some interviews from the main stars including Portman, Weaving and Fry. Essentially some of the themes of the movie are discussed, and brief glimpses of how the film was made. Overall the DVD extra is not spectacular, but is well worth sitting through the short time it will take to watch.


--------Final comments--------
V for Vendetta is a film that you can watch again and again, and still want to think the subject matter over. It is without doubt an entertaining piece of work, and I would recommend seeing if you have not done so already. I fully accept that this is not a film that everyone will enjoy, but for those interested it is (at the time of writing) available at play.com for just £5.99.

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Certificate: 15 and over
Duration: 2 hours and 8 minutes approximately
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Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.

Summary: Quality film that should be watched